Culvert failure prompts emergency repairs in Orange

Published: 06-13-2025 1:40 PM

ORANGE — Fairman Road is closed to vehicle and foot traffic so the Highway Department can fix a failed culvert.

The culvert’s structural failure resulted in the Selectboard declaring an emergency on Thursday evening. The Highway Department temporarily reinforced the culvert overnight to allow for light vehicle access before conducting a full repair from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

No one is allowed to enter or exit the area during this time frame and residents of Fairman Road, Camp Road and surrounding areas were strongly encouraged to plan accordingly. Residents were advised to leave the area before 8 a.m. on Friday in the event that they’d need to travel during the day.

“Emergency services are fully prepared,” a Thursday evening post on the Orange Police Department’s Facebook page reads. “Chief [James] Young of the Orange Fire Department and Chief [James] Sullivan of the Police Department have coordinated plans to ensure emergency medical and fire response coverage throughout the closure.”

According to Town Administrator Matthew Fortier, the town “noticed a giant hole growing” on Thursday. He added that 3 inches of rain fell in 10 minutes a few days earlier.

An article on the warrant for Monday’s Annual Town Meeting involves appropriating $300,000 to replace the culvert.

“This has been an in-the-works-type project,” Fortier said.

The article will still appear on the warrant, which was finalized a month ago and cannot legally be changed.

Article continues after...